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Where do you live on the net? The importance of a good address.

Guest post by: Liz Walker

Article Overview: So many times, we see a small business with an email address that leads to hotmail and the like, or the free ones that come with your Internet connection provider so the hosts name is involved e.g. "yourname@hostname.com." This makes you look like an amateur or a business that's not serious.

Where do you live on the net? The importance of a good address.

Remember when a common expression was, "He (or she) lives on the wrong side of the tracks"? That was back when we all had only one address-where we lived. Business owners realize they have a home addresss, where they live, as well as a business address, where they do business. But there's another very important address as well-your online address or where you live on the Internet. This is just as important as your physical addresses.

Here's an example: you've probably heard of "hotmail" or "Yahoomail" just two of the many places on the internet where you can get a free email address just for signing on. Nothing wrong with these but they're kind of like discount hotels-just sign in, not too many questions asked, if you know what I mean.

These places have their uses, they're good to use as secondary email addresses if you don't want to give your real email addresses out-you know, to avoid spam and other unsavoury email.

But why would you use one of these addresses for business purposes? Especially when you already own a domain? Are you hiding something? Is there something about your business you don't want people to know?

So many times, we see a small business with an email address that leads to hotmail and the like, or are the free ones that come with your Internet connection provider so the hosts name is involved e.g. "yourname@hostname.whatever."

This makes you look like an amateur or a business that's not serious. Wouldn't you rather have an address like: yourname@yourbusiness.com? We thought so! Well it's so easy-and it will probably cost you under $10.

Here's what to do: go to a large hosting service online, (we recommend 1and1) and register a domain. That's all. If you register a domain, using their search tool to find one that's available, say "yourbusinessname.whatever", you can then set up your email address to be, you guessed it, yourname@yourbusiness.whatever.

And what's more, you don't have to change your current email addresss at hotmail or wherever, you can set it up so your new professional sounding, business-like email address "forwards" to your current email address. Sound simple? It is and what's more, you've just moved from that trailer down by the river to a very nice part of the internet-your own domain. Congratulations!

Oh, and one more thing, be sure to set your email so that the "replyto" address is your new domain not that free one you're still using (if you really must).

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Article Tags: addresss, business address, business owners, business purposes, connection provider, discount hotels, email addresses, expression, free email address, free ones, hosting service, hosts, hotmail, internet connection, physical addresses, search tool, small business, wrong side of the tracks, yahoomail
Referred by: http://www.makingprofitspour.com



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Re: Contact Information - [quote="LoveInventions":f9lkza36] If the sites for personal use then I can understand people maybe being a bit cautious about supplying their email address. But when it’s for business I think it’s unforgivable. It’s like saying you’re never going to give your business card out because you don’t want people contacting you. It also seems strange, you put all that work into createing a site, creating content, getting visitors to your site but you then don’t want that to interact with people[/quote:f9lkza36] I agree - if the site is for business - it is necessary to include contact information. At least give an email address - that is checked on a regular basis. A mailing address (physical or PO Box) and a phone number are up to the individual person and their situation. I have to disagree about including a photo on a dating site. For single women who live in a small town - they should make the personal decision how much personal contact information to reveal - including a picture. I have a friend who was on an online dating site and she was talking to someone that happened to live 2 blocks from her and he drove past her house every day. Turns out he had a long criminal record including assault. Imagine what could've happened if he had her picture. That is an unusual situation, but it does happen. Better to keep some details to yourself and then reveal to people you feel you can trust. Chris
Re: 3 Ways to Grow Your Business in 2011 - Hi Alan Those sound like good ideas and keeping in constant contact is always important. In the busy life we all lead these days, it becomes very easy to forget a service that has been used in the past, so a gentle reminder that you are still around is good. As far as the person you would like to send a thank you gift to, if you have her email address why not contact her and tell her that you would like her postal address so that you can send a small token of appreciation to her for her loyalty to your proof reading service. MichelleJ
Re: Direct Mail Postcards - I have found that the best way to get your direct mail opened is to make it look like a friend mailed it. In this case, you have to decide which is more important; quantity or quality. To get things to look less commercial you have to hand address them or find a machine that makes it look like it's been hand addressed or it will go straight into the garbage (better know as file 17 - and I have no idea why 17), anyway, why waste a good lead. Even if you pay a teen-ager to address envelopes for a few hours everyday, you'll probably get a better response than sticking labels on or just printing them by machine. Don't include a return address. This peaks their interest because they want to know who it's from. I know I would. Do this can increase your response greatly depending on the type of product you are selling.
Contact Information - I've been amazed at the number of people who have blogs and/or websites to promote and there is no contact information. What's the point of having an online presence presence if people can't get in touch with you???? I don't list my phone number or home address - but my email address and Post Office box is on every page of my websites at least once and my email address is in my blog profile. The other "fun" option is when people do provide an email address, but its out of date and inactive or they only check it every week or two. Seems that these people can't be overly serious about the product or service they are promoting. Any other thoughts??? Shri
Re: How did we Live before Electricity - Interesting topic everyone. The first thing that comes to mind and may answer some of your questions is this: look at how the Amish live. Now, you may not be familiar with the Amish where you live, but here in PA, I'm surrounded by them. Lancaster, PA is the heart of Amish, really. But, just over the ridge and mountain from where I live, the Amish are everywhere as well. They live without electricity everyday. It's forbidden for them to have it in their homes. They live a much more uncleanly life compared to the rest of us, but they get by and do very well for themselves. There are a lot of traits they have that many do not. Their work habit is the best I've ever seen. You can actually learn a lot from them, including how to get by without electricity... LOL. I like the idea of solar electricity. I think that's a technology we're going to be seeing more and more of.


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